Verlag: [Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany], 1945
Anbieter: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, USA
Zustand: Very Good. An important collection of extremely rare mimeographed materials printed at the Dachau Concentration Camp only days after the camp's liberation from the Nazis by American forces. The collection includes 14 issues of *Dahavski Poroc?evalec* [The Dachau Reporter], the two only published issues of *Vesti* [News], one issue of *Razsvit* [Enlightenment]; together with *Nekaj Partizanskih* [Some Partisan Songs], the only song book printed at Dachau. Partisan survivors at Dachau were given access to paper and mimeograph machines by the Americans, and within 72 hours the first number of *Dahavski Poroc?evalec* was printed, with the respected Slovenian journalist Ludwig Mrzel serving as editor. Only 30 issues were published, followed by only two issues of its successor newspaper *Vesti*, also edited by Mrzel. The newspaper *Razsvit* was published by Yugoslavian Antifascist Youth, and the songbook was published by another Partisan committee in Dachau as part of the American effort to dramatically improve the conditions of the former prisoners who were obliged to remain in the camp for some weeks until being processed out. A remarkable survival of fragile materials of profound cultural and historical importance, created during one of the most tragic periods in history. Detailed descriptions follows: 1. Ludwig MRZEL (editor). *Dahavski Poroc?evalec Glasilo Jugoslav. Narod. Odbora v Dachau*. [The Dachau Reporter Newspaper of the Yugoslavian National Liberation Army in Dachau]: 14 loose issues: nos. 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21-24, 26-28, and 30. Dachau [Concentration Camp, Germany]: May 13 - June 5, 1945. Quartos (30 x 21 cm). Mimeographed text, one issue with an in-text mimeographed illustration, stapled. Printed on fragile paper, slightly age-toned, scattered small tears and chips (one issue with small loss of text at the margins), issue no. 11 with a small hole in the middle (with small loss of text), no. 24 with loss of paper to the upper margin (about two one-inch pieces, laid-in), else overall good or better. Fourteen loose issues of *Dahavski Poroc?evalec* published daily in Dachau, spanning the period from May 12 through June 5, 1945. Soon after the camp was liberated, Yugoslavian Partisan survivors were given access to paper and mimeograph machines by the Americans, and issued this daily newspaper, with the respected Slovenian journalist Ludwig Mrzel serving as editor. Only 30 issues were published. *Dahavski Poroc?evalec* focused primarily on reporting contemporary events, including important details about conditions at the Dachau camp. Most reporting of contemporary events was derived from American media: papers, newsreels, and radio reports. Although most articles are written in Slovenian, it includes some sections, together with words and phrases, intended to be understood by Croatian and Serbian speakers. A list of all 14 issues follows: #10. May 12, 1945 (8pp.) #11. May 13, 1945 (2pp.) #13. May 15, 1945 (4pp.) #15. May 17, 1945 (6pp.) #16. May 18, 1945 (4pp., with 1 quarter page stapled between pp. 2-3) #19. May 23, 1945 (4pp.) #21. May 25, 1945 (6pp., with an illustration of Tito on the front page) #22. May 26, 1945 (4pp.) + 4pp. supplement (last page is blank) #23. May 27, 1945 (6pp.) #24. May 29, 1945 (6pp.) #26. May 31, 1945 (4pp.) + 2pp. supplement (last page is blank) #27. June 1, 1945 (4pp.) #28. June 2, 1945 (4 pp.) #30. June 5, 1945 (4pp.) Last issue published. All 14 issues are very scarce. *OCLC* locates only four holdings in Slovenia. 2. Ludwig MRZEL (editor). *VESTI: Moskva-London-Beograd-Paris-New York-Ljubljana-Zagreb-Trst*. [NEWS: Moscow-London-Belgrade-Paris-New York-Ljubljana-Triest]. KZ Dachau: June 6 and 7, 1945. Issued in 2 numbers only on June 6th and 7th, after *Dahavski Poroc?evalec* ceased publication on June 5th, when the remaining inmates at Dachau had to stay in the camp for two additional days. Two issues: nos. 1 and 2. Quartos (30 x 21 cm). Each consists of 1 sheet (or 2pp.) of mimeographed text. The first number (June 6th) is slightly age-toned, with scattered small chips and tears to the margins, else very good; the second number (June 7th) is slightly age-toned, very good. On June 5th the remaining inmates at Dachau were scheduled to be transferred by the Allies to their homeland, after more than a month of waiting in the liberated concentration camp. After printing the last number of *Dahavski Poroc?evalec* on June 5th, which included a goodbye note, they received the news informing them that they had to stay in the camp for an additional two days. Editor Ludwig Mrzel thus prepared a new newspaper *Vesti*, which published radio news broadcasts from all over the world on the following two days. The second number, published on June 7th, was the last newspaper printed in Dachau: on June 8th the liberated prisoners could finally leave the concentration camp. Very scarce. *OCLC* locates only two holdings in Slovenia. 3. Razsvit Glasilo Jugoslovanske Antifaisti?ne Mladine [Enlightenment Newspaper of Yugoslavian Antifascist Youth]. KZ Dachau: June 2, 1945. One loose issue: no. 5. Quarto (30 x 21 cm). 1 sheet (or 2pp.) of mimeographed text. Printed on fragile paper, slightly age-toned, small tears and holes with small loss of text in margins, otherwise in a good condition. An extremely rare newspaper printed by Yugoslavian youths imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp, weeks after the liberation of the camp by the Allies, when inmates were still kept at the camp for security and medical reasons. *OCLC* locates only one holding, of this issue only (no. 5), at the National Library of Slovenia. 4. Nekaj Partizanskih [Some Partisan Songs]. Kulturno-propagandni odsek Jugoslovanskega narodnega odbora v koncentracijskem tabori?u Dachau [Cultural-Propaganda Detachment of Yugoslavian National Committee in the Concentration Camp Dachau]. Dachau: May, 1945. 12° (11.5 x 9 cm). pp. [2] 1-30. Mimeographed title and text pages, in original red paper wrapper, sti.
Verlag: [Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany], 1945
Anbieter: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, USA
Zustand: Very Good. Two quarto sheets (8 ¼" x 11 ¾"). 4pp. Mimeographed text with illustrations. Modest age-toning, small staple holes and a few scattered small tears and chips, very good. Only one issue published, complete as printed. (Included is a duplicate copy of the final sheet, in about very good condition with scatted foxing and soiling). An extraordinary newsletter printed by Slovenian Partisan survivors at Dachau shortly after the campy was liberated by the American Army: with unique and meaningful content, and several illustrations by Boidar Pengov. The editor, Emil Smasek, and co-author Ludwig Mrzel employ a dark "Balkan Style" sense of humor to attack German atrocities and those directly responsible for them. They also celebrate the triumph of the survivor, who had suddenly been saved from the abyss and given a chance to return home, and they pay tribute to fallen friends and comrades. This is, as the subtitle reads, the: "First and hopefully farewell edition". Published on June 1, 1945, just over one month after the camp was liberated and put under American administration. Most of the surviving prisoners were obliged to remain in the camp for several weeks until being processed out. Not only did the Americans need to screen inmates for people deemed potential security threats to the Allies, it was also still unsafe or very difficult for inmates to return home. Several thousand liberated prisoners thus remained at Dachau, and the Americans promoted activities and diversions for the internees as they awaited their release. A small number of residents requested and were given the resources to publish their own rudimentary newsletters, giving rise to this newsletter created by Slovenian Partisan inmates. The newsletter employs both sarcastic and ironic humor, seeking to convey various messages, but in the main to lift the spirits of its readers: fellow survivors still at the camp. The content takes the form of short poems and articles on aspects of Dachau, as well as salvos directed against prominent pro-Axis Yugoslav collaborators, together with several entertaining illustrations by Boidar Pengov. Of note are the poems directed against the *Domobranci* (Slovene Home Guard); the pro-Nazi Archbishop of Ljubljana, Gregorij Roman; the Croatian Ustae leader Ante Pavelic?; the Slovenian general and Nazi collaborator Leon Rupnik; as well as the Croatian Ustae politician Vladko Mac?ek. The text expresses delight that all of these people are either on the run or on their way to the gallows. There is also a lengthy article about daily life in Dachau first written by survivor Ludwig Mrzel during the spring of 1944, in Bloc 24, but not published until this time. He describes how the number of prisoners at the camp had increased dramatically during the last year of the war, from 59,000 prisoners in 1944 to 150,000 when it was liberated. Also included is a mock advertisement for Dachau: "Large numbers of empty rooms and joined dormitories to let. Room for about 10,000 men, but more to be free soon. Warm places in the crematorium, a single bedroom in the bunker. Food measured by a German scientific method: spinach, turnip, kohlrabi, etc., with accountable calories and vitamins. Lifelong supply. Management of K. L. Dachau." The editor, Emil Smasek, joined the Partisans at the beginning of the war, but was imprisoned in Dachau in from 1942 to 1943, and then again from January 1945. At the camp he became a leader of the underground cultural-propaganda department of Yugoslav National Committee. He later became an acclaimed dramatist and author, involved in radio shows and puppet theatres. Ludwig Mrzel later became director of the National Theatre in Ljubljana. Boidar Pengov, was interred at Dachau due to his association with the Partisans, and witnessed the many atrocities committed at the camp. *OCLC* locates only two copies in Slovenia.